Oregon’s Omoruyi another Green?
At 6foot6 and 235 pounds, Eugene Omoruyi was second in rebounds, assists and steals for an Oregon team that went to the Sweet 16.
That sounds a lot like Draymond Green, who has become a top allaround player after the Warriors lucked into him with the 35th pick out of Michigan State in the 2012 draft.
This comparison gathers further credence when talking to Omoruyi, who was part of the seemingly afterthought group the Warriors brought to San Francisco on Monday to tip off the draft scouting season, because he called Green: “a big role model.”
“I’m a competitor, and I compete anywhere I go,” Omoruyi said. “If you know me, you know that competitiveness is my biggest aspect. I always bring competitiveness to the game.”
Even though he scored a teamleading 17.1 points per game, Omoruyi isn’t considered a top prospect, because he’ll turn 25 at about the trade deadline of his rookie season after playing three years at Rutgers before transferring to Oregon.
So is the case with the other five prospects the Warriors worked out Monday: a group of intriguing talents with possibly jarring flaws. Houston’s Justin Gorham, Virginia’s Sam Hauser, Houston’s Dejon Jarreau, Arkansas’ Jalen Tate, and Austin Peay’s Terry Taylor.
A second group is expected Thursday.
This early in the scouting season, the Warriors don’t know even when they’ll pick.
They traded their secondround choice to Toronto, but secondrounders easily can be purchased. In the first round, the Warriors likely will draft sixth and 14th, but the lottery won’t tell the exact story until June 22.
The Warriors could move up from the final lottery spot at 14 and have to stay out of the top three to keep Minnesota’s pick, which is currently slated at No. 6.
The wide variety of the Warriors’ unknowns adds to the typically mysterious scouting season for the NBA. The Warriors could bring in prospects to see if they want to buy a secondround pick or tab a player as an undrafted free agent for the summer league.
Other times, it might be a favor to an agent who represents a player among the top 14 or a player who can add to the dossier on a firstround target. Remember, potential firstround guards Moses Moody (Arkansas), Chris
Duarte (Oregon) and Trey Murphy III (Virginia) all had teammates at Monday’s workout.
The Warriors’ front office says Omoruyi and Hauser were there on their own account, and most of the coaching staff and decisionmakers were there to see the individual drills all the way up to the threeonthree play.
The players arrived Sunday, got coronavirus tests and hung out in hotel rooms before being picked up Monday for interviews, medical screening and oncourt work.
With this group, there wasn’t much the Warriors didn’t already know.
After three seasons at Marquette, Hauser averaged 16 points on 50.3% shooting at Virginia. His 41.7% 3point mark was 15th best in the nation.
“He’s in the upper echelon, for sure,” said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett, who coached Klay Thompson (at Washington State) and Joe Harris.
Hauser said: “I feel like my shooting speaks for itself.”
Omoruyi, who speaks English and Edu (Nigerian), grew up in Toronto. He averaged 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals in starting all 28 games for Oregon.
“I think he’s about a year away with his ball skills,” said Oregon head coach Dana Altman as the team headed into the NCAA Tournament. “He’s very close to being a big 3man, who can put the ball on the floor, but he can already guard a lot of different positions.”
Omoruyi said: “Obviously, my greatest assets are defense and the way I see the game. I also have an IQ. Also, being a great teammate. I understand what it takes to win.”